Improvement in locomotive-boilers



N. PETERS` PHOTO LTHOGRAPHER AsHxNGToN D C UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE3 GEORGE F. JOHNSON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN LOCOMOTIVE-BOILERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 38,584. dated May 19, 1863.

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, G. F. JOHNSON, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented an Im provement in Locomotive-Boilers;` and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and

to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to that class of locomotive-boilers in which a chamber, generally termed a combustion-chamber,77 is formed in the body of the boiler, between the fire-box and the front tube-plate; and my invention consists in introducting a jet or jets of steam into the said combustion-chamber immediately in front of the said tube-plate, and directin g the said jet or jets of steam toward the lire-box, so that the said combustion-chamber may be always free from the accumulation of partly-consumed coke and cinders,which tend to choke up the tubes and to interfere with the draft, but which, when forced back into the lire-box in small quantities, are available as fuel.

In order to enable others skilled in the construction of locomotives to make my invention, I will now proceed to describe a mode of carrying it into effect which Ihave found most efficacious in practice.

On reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a vertical section of a locomotiveboiler with my improvement, and Fig. 2 a transverse section on the line 1 2, Fig. l.

A represents the body or cylindrical portion ofthe boiler, B being the smoke-box; O,

'the rear tube-plate; D, the fire-box; E, the

combustion-chamber, and F the front tubeplate.

In coal-burning locomotives the formation of a chamber at the rear of, and communicating with, the tire-box, and between the latter and the front tubeplate, has been found eX- pedient for the more thorough combustion of the carbonaceous gases which would otl1erwise pass in an uncousumed state through the tubes. The only objection to this so-called combustion-chamber is the accumulation therein of masses of partly-consumed coke and cinders, which tend to choke the tubes, and which must necessarily be removed from time to time by a suitable instrument inserted through the door of the flre-box, an operation requiring considerable exertion and tending to 1interfere with the proper burning of the fue I secure to the body of the boiler, near the rea-r of the same, an ordinary cock, G, which communicates with the steam-space in the boiler and with a pipe, H, which passes down through the smoke-box and communicates wih one of the lowest tubes, H. To the plug of the cock G is secured a lever, I, to which is attached a rod, or other suitable mechanism, to enable the engineer to turn the cock without moving from his position in front of the fire box. Whenever any quantity of coke and cinders has accumulated in thecombustionchamber the engineer opens the cock and causes a jet of steam to pass down the pipe H, through the tube H', and to escape into the combustion chamber at the rear of the accumulated cinders, which are forced by the jet into the fire-box. This opening ofthe cock may be repeated at-such intervals as may be deemed necessary for keeping the combustionchamber clear of all particles of coke and cinders. As the latter are discharged into the rebox in small quantities, they are available as fuel, and cannot interfere with the proper combustion of the fuel, which is the case when large masses of cinders and refuse are raked from the combustion-chamber in the usual manner.

Although I have illustrated and described a particular mode of discharging a jet or jets of steam into the combustionchamber, it will be evident that jets may be discharged into the said chamber without the aid of the lower tube or tubes, and by pipes arranged in a variety of ways. I therefore do not desire to confine myself to the specific mode herein described of admitting jets of steam to the con1 bustion chamber; nor do I desire to claim, broadly, maintaining the tlues of locomotiveboilers free from cinders and ashes by jets of steam but I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- A jet or jets of steam introduced into the combustionchamber of a coalburning-locomotive boiler, at the rear ofthe said chamber, when the jet or jets are directed toward the fire-box, as set forth, for the purposes specitied.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name tothis specification in the presence of two suba scribing witnesses.

GEORGE F. JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

HENRY HoWsoN, J oHN WHITE. 

